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“It’s very upsetting for the family. We paid for the wreath and put it down so it shouldn’t have just gone. It’s part of the memory and it has upset us, the family has paid for this land.

“I understand the council cuts and maintains the grass but we paid for the plot for my brother. The council should not have just took it off.”

(Image: Unknown)

Mario says the family wanted to put the custom-made wreath down to mark two years since Richard’s passing.

Councillor Randy Conteh, cabinet member for communities, said: “It is always our intention to try and keep the cemetery tidy and well looked after. Last week staff started to remove hundreds of Christmas wreaths and tributes from graves, something they do at this time every year.

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"Unfortunately on this occasion they have mistakenly removed the wreath along with the other Christmas wreaths on the grave. We understand the distress this has caused and have apologised to the family for what was an honest and genuine error. We have offered to replace the wreath at no cost to the family.”